I am a professor of applied economics and the co-Head of the Economics Division at Stirling Management School. Additionally, I am an active member of the Stirling Behavioural Science Centre. My primary research interests lie in understanding consumer choice behaviour, decision-making processes, and eliciting preferences and perceptions.
My academic journey started with a MSc study in Resource Economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA. My studies encompassed subjects such as industrial organisation, food safety economics, and decision-making models. Subsequently, I obtained a PhD in Economics from the University of Manchester, UK. My doctoral research focused on employing stated preference techniques to investigate consumer preferences in the context of food safety.
After completing my doctoral studies, I relocated to the University of York and became a part of a multidisciplinary research team that focused on investigating the public's preferences for innovations in healthcare services. Upon obtaining a faculty position at Stirling, my relentless dedication to research has been directed towards exploring individual preferences, decision-making processes, and perceptions across a broad spectrum of contexts, including food, health, and marketing. In my research, I integrate principles from both economics and behavioural science and employ methodologies from both disciplines. Furthermore, my research interests extend to improving survey designs and refining survey methodologies.
Beyond academia, I contribute my expertise as a member of the Social Science Research Committee for the UK's Food Standards Agency. This non-ministerial government department plays a crucial role in shaping public health policies related to food.
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) CLAHRC Research Dissemination Fund, UK .
National Institute for Health Research CLAHRC Research Capability Fund
Investigates the role of innovative preference elicitation in the arena of primary care and clinical commissioning.
Best PechaKucha Presentation
RATE Nomination
SIRE Activity Grant
Scottish Institute for Research in Economics
SIRE Early Career Engagement Grant
Scottish Institute for Research in Economics
Stirling Management School's Seed Fund
Divisional Research Coordinator
Joint Head of Division
Postgraduate Research Director
External Examiner for PhD Theses
Expert Member of the Social Science Advisory Committee of the UK’s Food Standards Agency
Supervisor for research assistants
Member of General University Ethics Panel
My research interests broadly include applied microeconomics, public health economics, behavioural economics and food and resource economics. More specifically, I delve into the intricacies of consumer choice behavior, decision-making processes, and the elicitation of preferences in domains like health, food, and marketing. I also examine aspects related to consumers' perception of risks, their trust in institutions, the concept of responsibility concerning food safety, and the crafting of effective risk communication strategies.
I have a particular interest in exploring methodological and econometric aspects associated with discrete choice and best-worst scaling methods. My work has focused on issues in these methods, such as preference heterogeneity and decision heuristics (e.g., attribute non-attendance, elimination and selection by aspect behaviours). Alongside this, I am deeply intrigued by the realm of survey design and methodologies, which serves as an additional avenue of my research interests.
See www.sedaerdem.com for more details including publications and presentations.
Follow @erdem_econ
Exploring and quantifying preferences towards self-management support interventions: a mixed methods survey among individuals with long term health conditions
PI: Professor Seda Erdem
Funded by: The Health Foundation
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Pregnant Women, risks associated with delivery in remote and rural hospitals: designing qualitative and quantitative questionnaires and analysing data
PI: Professor Seda Erdem
Funded by: NHS Highland
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Best Worst Scaling Methods
PI: Professor Seda Erdem
Funded by: University of Aberdeen
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A feasibility study on the use of nutrition labelling using an integrated approach in real-world setting
PI: Professor Seda Erdem
Funded by: Scottish Funding Council
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Exploring and quantifying preferences towards self-management support interventions: a mixed-methods survey among individuals with long term health conditions
PI: Professor Seda Erdem
Funded by: The Health Foundation
–
Article
Gc 3S, Iglesias CP, Erdem S, Hassan L, Peek N & Manca A (2022) Using discrete choice experiments to elicit preferences for digital wearable health technology for self-management of chronic kidney disease. International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 38 (1), Art. No.: e77. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266462322003233
Article
The Perception of Women in Rural and Remote Scotland About Intrapartum Care: A Qualitative Study
Watson V, Bryers H, Krucien N, Erdem S, Burnside M & van Woerden HC (2022) The Perception of Women in Rural and Remote Scotland About Intrapartum Care: A Qualitative Study. Patient. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40271-022-00608-5
Article
Can traffic light labelling nudge heuristical decision processes?
Erdem S & Campbell D (2022) Can traffic light labelling nudge heuristical decision processes?. Journal of Behavioral Economics for Policy. https://sabeconomics.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/JBEP-6-1-4.pdf
Article
Measuring Time Preferences Using Stated Credit Repayment Choices
Li H, Campbell D & Erdem S (2022) Measuring Time Preferences Using Stated Credit Repayment Choices. Journal of Quantitative Economics, 20 (1), pp. 43-67. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40953-021-00283-7
Article
People's preferences for self-management support
Iglesias Urrutia CP, Erdem S, Birks YF, Taylor SJC, Richardson G, Bower P, van den Berg B & Manca A (2022) People's preferences for self-management support. Health Services Research, 57 (1), pp. 91-101. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.13635
Article
Erdem S (2021) Investigating the Effect of Restaurant Menu Labelling on Consumer Food Choices Using a Field Experiment. British Food Journal. https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-04-2021-0432
Article
A comparison of visual versus non-visual representations of costs in financial decision-making
Erdem S, Li H & Campbell D A comparison of visual versus non-visual representations of costs in financial decision-making. Economics.
Conference Abstract
Gc VS, Iglesias CP, Erdem S, Hassan L & Manca A (2021) PUK21 Patients’ Preferences for a Wearable Digital Health Technology to Support Self-Management of Chronic Kidney Disease. Value in Health, 24 (Supplement 1), Art. No.: S237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jval.2021.04.1189
Article
McCabe S & Erdem S (2021) The influence of mortality reminders on cultural in-group versus out-group takeaway food safety perceptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 51 (4), pp. 363-369. https://doi.org/10.1111/jasp.12740
Policy Document
Scottish people's priorities and preferences for food safety information
Erdem S, Radu M & Moore M (2019) Scottish people's priorities and preferences for food safety information. University of Stirling. Stirling. https://www.stir.ac.uk/research/public-policy-hub/policy-briefings/
Article
Including opt-out options in discrete choice experiments: issues to consider
Campbell D & Erdem S (2019) Including opt-out options in discrete choice experiments: issues to consider. Patient, 12 (1), pp. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40271-018-0324-6
Presentation / Talk
Effect of front of pack labelling nudges on consumers' food choices and decision-making
Erdem S (2018) Effect of front of pack labelling nudges on consumers' food choices and decision-making. The Foundations of Utility and Risk (FUR) Conference 2018, York, UK, 25.06.2018-28.06.2018.
Article
Who do UK consumers trust for information about nanotechnology?
Erdem S (2018) Who do UK consumers trust for information about nanotechnology?. Food Policy, 77, pp. 133-142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2018.04.008
Presentation / Talk
Erdem S (2018) Do food labels influence our choices and the way we make decisions? Evidence from food choice experiments. Food and Consumers: Current Issues and Future Directions, University of Kent, 06.04.2018-06.04.2018.
Article
Erdem S & Campbell D (2017) Preferences for public involvement in health service decisions: a comparison between best-worst scaling and trio-wise stated preference elicitation techniques. The European Journal of Health Economics, 18 (9), pp. 1107-1123. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-016-0856-4
Conference Paper (unpublished)
Eliciting Trust in Information Sources for Nanotechnology
Erdem S (2016) Eliciting Trust in Information Sources for Nanotechnology. The Agricultural & Applied Economics Association Annual Meeting 2016, Boston, USA, 31.07.2016-02.08.2019. https://www.aaea.org/meetings/2016-aaea-annual-meeting/
Conference Paper (unpublished)
Erdem S (2016) The Effect of Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling on Consumers’ Food Choices and Decision-Making: Merging Discrete Choice Experiments with Eye-Tracking. The Agricultural & Applied Economics Association Annual Meeting 2016, Boston, USA, 31.07.2016-02.08.2016. https://www.aaea.org/meetings/2016-aaea-annual-meeting/
Newspaper / Magazine
Nanotechnology could make our food tastier and healthier – but can we stomach it?
Erdem S (2016) Nanotechnology could make our food tastier and healthier – but can we stomach it?. The Conversation. 22.06.2016. https://theconversation.com/nanotechnology-could-make-our-food-tastier-and-healthier-but-can-we-stomach-it-60349
Article
Accounting for attribute-level non-attendance in a health choice experiment: does it matter?
Erdem S, Campbell D & Hole AR (2015) Accounting for attribute-level non-attendance in a health choice experiment: does it matter?. Health Economics, 24 (7), pp. 773-789. https://doi.org/10.1002/hec.3059
Article
Consumers’ preferences for nanotechnology in food packaging: a discrete choice experiment
Erdem S (2015) Consumers’ preferences for nanotechnology in food packaging: a discrete choice experiment. Journal of Agricultural Economics, 66 (2), pp. 259-279. https://doi.org/10.1111/1477-9552.12088
Article
Position Bias in Best-Worst Scaling Surveys: A Case Study on Trust in Institutions
Campbell D & Erdem S (2015) Position Bias in Best-Worst Scaling Surveys: A Case Study on Trust in Institutions. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 97 (2), pp. 526-545. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajae/aau112
Article
Erdem S, Campbell D & Thompson C (2014) Elimination and selection by aspects in health choice experiments: Prioritising health service innovations. Journal of Health Economics, 38, pp. 10-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhealeco.2014.06.012
Article
Erdem S & Thompson C (2014) Prioritising Health Service Innovation Investments Using Public Preferences: A Discrete Choice Experiment. BMC Health Services Research, 14, Art. No.: 360. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-14-360
Article
Investigating heterogeneity in the characterization of risks using best worst scaling
Erdem S & Rigby D (2013) Investigating heterogeneity in the characterization of risks using best worst scaling. Risk Analysis, 33 (9), pp. 1728-1748. https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.12012
Article
Using best-worst scaling to explore perceptions of relative responsibility for ensuring food safety
Erdem S, Rigby D & Wossink A (2012) Using best-worst scaling to explore perceptions of relative responsibility for ensuring food safety. Food Policy, 37 (6), pp. 661-670. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2012.07.010
Technical Report
Erdem S & Thompson C (2012) Public preferences for health service innovations: the evidence from a conjoint analysis: A report for the UK's National Health Service Foundation Trust. National Health Service Foundation Trust.
I have taught a number of economics modules. Currently I am teaching an online and a face-to-face Statistics module to masters students.
Lecturing on a number of UG and TPG courses